Promised pay review but nothing happening

[chrisboro2000]

I was recently head hunted and offered a job with a rival company. I had an interview and was offered the job there and then, also they sent me an email confirmation. This was back in February 2016.

The offer they gave me (also stated in the email) said I will get a salary of xxxxxx and a pay review after 3 months aiming to add an extra stated amount. Nothing happened once the 3 month had passed, so I mentioned to one of the Directors that my pay review date was overdue, he said he'd take care of it. The next day he told me he'd spoken to the senior Director, and although it was now June (4 months after I'd initially started) that they may or may not sit down and discuss it with me, but I would definitely get a pay rise starting 1st of July. A month late I know, but I wasn't too fussed. I get paid monthly, so come the end of July there was no increase. I again spoke to the Director I originally spoke to, he apologised and said he was assured it would happen in July's pay. The senior Director was on holiday, but he said he'd speak to him when he returned. When he returned he stated that he'd been really buy and I was pushed to the bottom of the pile and couldn't really explain why - he said he just seemed disinterested in the fact. He told me that it would still happen and to check Augusts pay. I am now currently on holiday myself, but although I haven't been paid, I have been emailed my August payslip in advance, and still no pay increase.

When I return to work, it will be September, 7 months since my start date, I will be mentioning this to the senior Director (I know I maybe should have before now, but I did go to the guy who interviewed me, offered me the job and emailed me the offer). The thing is I don't want to go in too hard and don't really know how to approach it. I recently had a week away and paid for it thinking I'd be getting a pay increase to cover it (I borrowed money out of savings that I was saving for something else) - I will bring this up, but don't want him to think that I'm making up tales of hardship to make him feel guilty. It's a good job I have now, but I wouldn't have left my old one for it had I have known this pay increase wouldn't happen. I really can't afford to lose this job so don't want to rock the boat, but also want what I've been promised. I have the email as proof if he denies a pay review is forthcoming. Do I ask for it to be backdated?

Thanks for looking, any help would be truly appreciated.

 

[STDFR33]

I find it odd that a company that went to the trouble of head hunting someone would not do their utmost to retain that member of staff.


A pay review is just a review. It isn’t a guarantee of a pay increase.


It sounds as though the company has no intention of giving you this increase. The fact that you have been told that the matter was pushed to the bottom of the pile should have given you a big hint of their intentions.


I think mentioning dipping into your savings for a week away will make you look silly. I wouldn’t mention this at all.

 

[chrisboro2000]

Thanks for your reply, maybe I didn't make it clear, but when I say I had an email of a pay review after 3 months, it also stated my pay would increase in the review to x amount. (The 3 month being a 12 week probation period). A promise made by a Director with proof.

The senior Director is a really busy guy and maybe with time off from him and myself he hasn't had chance to discuss it with me, although I was told a discussion may not happen, but I was guaranteed my pay rise would happen from July 1st.

Also another 2 members of staff were promised pay rises around the same time. A person who started a week before myself, and another who just had a small promotion. Still nothing for them either. He has been informed on at least 3 occasions by a senior partner of this, but still nothing. I will be seeing him personally on my return to work, all I really need is advice on how to approach it.

 

[Newchodge]

Approach it tactfully. Do not mention your week away and using your savings. Just say you are a little concerned that, despite all the undertakings you have received, starting with the email, nothing has yet materialised and query if there is a problem?

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

There are only two reasons why they would go down the route of offering a certain salary and then a pay review after 3 months:

1). They wanted to save money on that first 3 months of wages.

2). They wanted to keep their options open when it comes to giving you that pay rise.

Otherwise they may have just gave you the higher salary straight away, especially if they mentioned a specific figure for that increase.

If the senior director is very busy, then there may be no malicious intent involved. I don't know how big the company is, but dealing with clients and making money for the business is going to instinctively take priority over giving employees more money if the director is seriously strapped for time. It's just human nature.

If I were you, I'd just handle it the same way you have so far. Speaking to the senior director instead of the middle man might be all it takes. Do not treat it like you're speaking to the same guy for the 3rd or 4th time. Keep in mind that you're speaking to the senior director for the first time, as you don't know how much effort the lower-level director has really put into chasing this up for you.

I wouldn't ask for it to be backdated though. However unfair it is, you are still within the first 2 years of employment where it's very easy for the company to dismiss you. This is an extreme measure, but you just don't know how the senior director would react to something like that. It all depends on the person. There are many people out there who feel like giving someone a job is doing them a favour.

 

[Deleted member 226268]

....with a rival company.

Here is the important bit, that everyone seems to have overlooked.

You have simply been used as a pawn in the business chess game.


The issue over you receiving any pay rise or not is now irrelevant.
You will not receive one.
There will be a myriad of semi-plausible excuses why not.


Your new company have now got what they wanted, by damaging their rival company
by removing their staff with a promise of better pay and / or conditions / perks.

A process well oiled by your own avariciousness, and a slight lack of advanced thinking.

You will now find yourself stuck under the dreaded 2 years of employment rules.

Make too much of a fuss about your lack of pay rise and you will be out !
You were never REALLY needed in the first place.

They achieved their objective, you are now just surplus.

Will your old company take you back ?
No.


..Call me cynical ....Ha Ha.

.

 

[chrisboro2000]

Dave, first of all my new job does have better pay, better conditions and better perks. My only point was the pay rise I was promised although up to now being non-existent. I may be stuck in the 2 year employment rules, but also it's written in to my contract that I get a pay increase of at least 3.5% each financial year so it's not too bad if I don't get the wage increase review I was promised, but as I promised it I wanted to know how to go about getting it without being too aggressive. The main point is, I was promised a pay review with an increase of pay and have it in writing. Surely that must count for something?

The old company I worked for contacted me 6 weeks ago asking if I would consider returning, as things didn't work out with the guy they got to replace me, but I turned them down. Not only as I was banking on getting a pay rise, but the working environment I'm at now is much more enjoyable than my past employer.

So yes you are a cynic, not everything is black and white, there are grey areas.

 

[Deleted member 226268]

Yes !
Hard bitten Cynic, due to previous experiences !

However, I do hope that you receive the pay rise, and are happy to stay in the new company !

Let us all know when you get pushed out !
.

 

[chrisboro2000]

Dave I will let you know what happens as soon as I hear something. I will/have braced myself for the worst, but on the other hand I'm not going to roll over and just do nothing.

 

[Charlie B ACS]

It's also frequent that a lower salary is offered for 3 months, to save money on Head hunters Fees, which are generally charged at a % of Salary.

 

[MikeJ]

You could raise it to ask if there was any issues with your performance. They either then have to say there is (and gives you a chance to deal/argue your case) or no there isn't, in which case they really have to honour the pay increase.